31 Days to Thankfulness: Day 31

YEA!!!!!!

Day 31!!!!!!

I am thankful for:

It's over.

I did it.

I didn't miss a day.

You read these.

It's over. 

I am thankful for the exercise of being 

conscious of my many blessings. 

The introspection to really think about what it is

that I am thankful for. 

The clarity that at the center of each of these posts are the 

blessings that God has given me. 

The blessings of 

family, 

friends, 

nature, 

experiences,

and opportunities

to praise God.  

31 Days to Thankfulness: Day 30

Can I be thankful for the internet?

Because of it I'm doing this. 

It's allowed me to reconnect with old friends.

It's introduced me to new friends.

It answers all my questions.

Well, most, I still don't know what

year the first consumer glue gun was manufactured, 

but I know a lot of other really important stuff. 

Or at least where to go to find answers.

I learned how to make this:

And how to do this:

And how to cook these:

I didn't even know that those existed!

Yep. I think I will include the internet.

31 Days to Thankfulness: Day 29

This picture cracks me up.

Our parents had a motor boat when we were kids. 

They would take us all out to the lake for a *fun* day on

the water. 

Mom and Gaye would water ski. 

I don't remember what the boys did. 

Whatever it was, I don't think they enjoyed it.

I spent my time getting slivers in my feet from the docks.

Mike and and I thought about getting a boat. 

Once.

I am thankful we didn't.

31 Days to Thankfulness: Day 28

A partner in crime.

Food crime.

You ever watch a food show on TV and think,

"I could really go for that?"

But it's 11:00 at night so you just start

eating everything in the house?

Not here!

Want pancakes at midnight but the only 

thing open is Burger King?

Whoppers it is!

Hot Dog Show is on at 10 PM and everybody's

in their PJ's?

Pile in the car, 

Portillos is open late and they have a drive-thru!

There are some shows we know better than

to watch at night, 

The Best Thing I Ever Ate,

Diners, Drive Ins and Dives,

and that

Hot Dog Show.

That one not only caused a late night PJ run

to Portillos, it has also been responsible for more

that one hour long road trip to

Superdawg.

I am thankful that I am married to a guy

who is game for any food ridiculousness. 

31 Days to Thankfulness: Day 27

Girl's Night Out.

We were made to be in community.

Nothing beats a community of girlfriends.

Guys are great and I love a few of them but

in times of stress, 

(testosterone)

despair,

(jeans shopping)

calamity,

(bad hair)
or failed diets,
nothing compares to a good
Girl's Night Out.

Or Margarita Friday.

31 Days to Thankfulness: Day 26

Sunrise.

Over the ocean.

Thank you.

31 Days to Thankfulness: Day 25

Walking.

I'm not sure how it became my exercise of choice.

Could it have been because I can do it anywhere?

Anytime?

In any weather?

Or that it's 

FREE?

For whatever reason I am a walker.

And a climber. 

And on occasion a terrorist, it would appear.

Hey, it gets cold in Illinois :o)

31 Days to Thankfulness: Day 24

Pleasant customers.

I work retail. 

Ask anyone who works retail and they would agree with me, 

everyone should have to work retail

at some point in their lives. 

It will give you a new appreciation. 

And a better attitude.

Not to say that I haven't had my moments when 

dealing with a salesperson who just doesn't get it,

but for the most part, walking in their shoes tends

to temper your reactions.

I am a "people person."

Shut up in an office is not my best place.

Let me schmooze.

Let me schmooze with new or expectant Grandmas

and I'm in heaven!

And when I have a day where I was able

to help some people, 

welcome some visitors, 

recommend some restaurants, 

and everyone played nice, 

ahhh, gratitude prevails. 

31 Days to Thankfulness: Day 23

The joy of cooking. 

The act of it, not the book. 

Well, but nothing against the book. 

I'm just not going there with this.

You know how sometimes you can get sucked into a

negative attitude and at some point you step 

back and say, wait a minute!?

Well, that's what happened to me. 

I had been going along with the party line that cooking

was a chore. Just another thing on a mother's "to-do" list.

And then something clicked. 

Perhaps the remote, clicking on Food Network.

But I gave myself permission to not only

like cooking but to find joy in it. 

I am blessed with a husband who will try anything. 

Well, except cooked spinach and artichokes.

But otherwise a very willing guinea pig. 

Er, participant!

I have also found the joy is in the activity and 

seeing people enjoy what I have made.

I don't actually have to eat it myself!

Good thing!

Well, now that we are down to two here I have found some rather

creative outlets for my creations.

I send all the baked goods to Mike's work.

I invite my sister and brother-in-law over.

I take things to Mom and Big.

I host parties.

I am part of my church's meal ministry.

Speaking of which, I was introduced to a really

cool website when I stayed with Indra while 

she recuperated from surgeries.

Take Them A Meal.

Someone organizes it and the recipient lets

them know what days they need meals and any food restrictions.

Then people can log on and sign up to take them a meal.

Food providers get reminders and the recipient

gets updates on who is bringing what when.

It was wonderful.

My church has started employing this method and 

I love it. 

So not only am I thankful for the joy of cooking.

I am also thankful for willing stomachs :o)

http://takethemameal.com/

31 Days to Thankfulness: Day 22

I'm starting to wonder who's bright idea it was to 

choose October for this little endeavor and not say,

February!?

It's not that I can't come up with 31 things to be thankful for, 

I just don't know if I have the writing aptitude

to expound on all of them. 

Can I just be thankful to be here?

That was the pat response at the dinner table 

when one of us was just feeling too worn 

out by the day to even think. 

We really made a point to eat dinner as a family

when the kids were growing up. 

Mike would say grace and then one year Shanna 

had this great idea that we should each

say one thing we were grateful for that day.

It stuck. 

We still do it. 

This makes me think about something else we did

when the kids were little. 

Dishes by hand. 

We chose not to have a dishwasher. 

The kids would clear the table and Mike and I 

would do the dishes together. 

It was actually a nice relaxed time together. 

We still do it.

I think back, about how we raised our kids. 

We didn't have a grand plan or really even a clue.

We just loved our little family and God

saw us through all the stuff we got wrong. 

We thanked God for His grace back then. 

We still do it. 

31 Days to Thankfulness: Day 21

The freedom, opportunity and ability to study God's word.

I have been a part of a women's bible

study group for close to ten years. 

You'd think I'd have it all down pat by now.

It seems I have to keep learning the a lot of the same lessons.

I think, hope, pray that some of it is sinking in.

Looking back at all my study guides, 

a few of them stand out as really having impacted my attitude.

Experiencing God

by Henry Blackaby

taught me to be aware of the spiritual markers in my life and 

to refer back to them when I feel at a loss.

Vision of His Glory

by Ann Graham Lotz

taught me to look at Revelation as instruction

on how to live today rather than live in fear of the future.

Jonah

by Priscilla Shirer

taught me that interruptions in life can challenge

me to grow or drive me to ruin.

Embracing Forgiveness

by Luci Swindoll

taught me that to fully accept the grace of forgiveness

offered to me through Jesus Christ I must be willing to forgive.

And the study I am in the middle of right now, 

Lord, Change My Attitude

by James MacDonald

is teaching me to be aware of my attitudes. 

While it may just be human nature to revert to 

some negative attitudes, it is my choice to stay there

or to change them. 

There is a committee of ladies who

choose our studies each year. 

A thank you for them too :o)

31 Days to Thankfulness: Day 20

Contentment. 

Not that I have it every minute of every day, 

but I think I am more content than not.

I know I get into trouble when I look to what 

"the other guy" has and compare it to what I 

think I don't have. 

That's a slippery slope. 

Contentment prevails when I can show gratitude 

for all that I have and realize I have much more than I need.

And when I don't think I have enough, 

well that's the time I need to give more.

More prayers, more energy, more time, more money. 

I am thankful for the exercise of contentment. 

31 Days to Thankfulness: Day 19

Wordless Wednesday.

God didn't have to make the trees change colors.

He did it for our enjoyment. 

Thank you, God. 

31 Days to Thankfulness: Day 18

My children worship The Lord. 

The rock that I can count on in this crazy world

is the only thing worth clinging to when everything go 

wapperjaw.

God.

My life has had ups and downs. 

Amazing highs and devastating lows.  

My children's will too.

And while I may be inclined to pray that they

have nothing but clear sailing ahead, 

I know that is not realistic. 

There is evil in the world and there are 

circumstances God will use to grow them and their faith. 

I can't change that. 

But I can rest easy. 

The same God who has held me through my crazy life

is the same God who 

holds my children and will continue

to do so long after I'm gone. 

Thank you, God.

31 Days to Thankfulness: Day 17

Thanksgiving. 

The Holiday.

It may be edging it's way into my favorite.

There doesn't seem to be the big lead up to it

like Christmas and so no big let down.

There is far less drama with Thanksgiving.

I get a bunch of my favorite people all together for a day.

I get to cook like a maniac.
A couple of years ago I figured
out to assign each person

a dish to make sure it gets to the table, so

I can have some wine, relax and watch

the symphony of everybody else getting

dinner on the table. 

The candles even get lit now!

31 Days to Thankfulness: Day 16

Dogs.

I know!

I was never a dog person. 

I allowed fish and hamsters. 

That's it. 

And then my son brought these two home.

Pfoetchen is Muffy's mother. 

You can't split them up. 

We actually did for about a year.

Pfoetchen has a bad back and it went way bad

a little over a year ago. 

We thought she was going to have to have wheels

but a year of strict crate rest at the breeders seems

to have done the trick. 

And now the two of them are back together again. 

I am thankful to have them around and

I am surprised at how much joy I get from the two of them. 

31 Days to Thankfulness: Day 15

A cozy bed.

Most people look forward to the end of the day

when they can collapse in bed.

I look forward to those first few moments of the day. 

When you wake up and the bed is all warm

and the covers are all twisted just right

and your pillow is cradling your head perfectly. 

It's worth it to purposely wake up about 

ten minutes early to just enjoy those first few 

peaceful,  comfortable moments of the day. 

Ahhh, and when Honey shows up with a cup of coffee?

Heaven!

31 Days to Thankfulness: Day 14

When you thank Him for what you see,

you are being

faithful.

When you thank Him for what you don't see,

you are being

faith filled.

Hebrews 11:6

31 Days to Thankfulness: Day 13

Court.

He's my bestie's baby boy. 

Graduating High School his future looked bright. 

Then he hit a "rough" patch. 

It was a five year patch.
If you had any idea how rough that patch was
you would fully understand the miracle of the photo above.

I learned that 

you really can feel your friend's pain. 

Sometimes you have to pray on you knees. 

And God really can take a situation that looks hopeless

and turn it round. 

To not just make "things" better

but to take the hardest of things and turn them into 

the most glorious of lessons.

I am thankful for Court.
I am thankful he became strong.
I am thankful to have been able to stand beside my friend.

31 Days to Thankfulness: Day 12

The Ocean. 

I thought about making this a 

Wordless Wednesday

but I couldn't look at this photo and not say

Thank you God for the amazing beauty

that is the ocean. 

And, by the way, 

Thank you for that amazing man :o)